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Replies to: Difference between Ti-84 and Ti-89

I found that I didn't need a calculator at all for the most part. TI-89 is definitely not necessary. if it makes you feel better though, I'm sure you could save a few seconds with some of its built-in functions.

Seems to me my D had to borrow a TI-84 from her brother (to whom she passed her 84 when she bought the 89 because it was required for a calc class) to use on either the SATI or the SATII Math 2 because using the TI-89 wasn't allowed...AND...she lamented having bought the 89 at all because she found it comparitively difficult to use and felt the 84 would have sufficed.

I always use TI-89 on Math 2.
3-4 questions are often solved ("solve" function, doh) faster on that machine.
I am not saying using TI-84 will prevent you from getting 800.

^lolilaughed - there is no calc on Math 2 you'd need TI-89 for.
In October there was question on maximum, but it was peanuts to answer with sheer graphing and tracing.
I wish TI-89 was a literary device and allowed on Literature.

as a person who used both, lemme tell you i hated the 89. it was like using a sword when a needle was required.
teh 84 is more than enough. the calculus and all in math 2 is so basic that even a 84 is not required. but 84 is perfect for all ur needs. the right blend of smart, speed and simplicity. plus cheaper too.

The 89 is much better if you know how to use it. It can solve systems (technically, you can do this with matrices on an 84, but who would want to do that? it would take like twice as long...), help you with max/min problems, find limits, sigmas (this can be done with sum(seq(blahblah)) on 84 but is much more powerful and intuitive on an 89). An 89 has a computer algebra system. This means that if you plug in something like (x+y)^3 (that's (x+y) cubed) you can ask for it to be expanded to x^3 + 3 x^2 y + 3 x y^2 + y^3. All around, it has more functions and is just an upgraded, more powerful calculator. The only argument you could make for it being worse is if you haven't used it and you are saying that it is "too complicated." It's really not bad once you get used to it.

just to add, i used an 89 and got an 800, and while i would've got an 800 with an 84, it would have taken a lot more effort.

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